Scientists must investigate various programs to find a potential match
1. What projects are already funded?
There can’t be too much overlap of your proposed work with an existing program
2. What is the typical range of funding offered by the program?
You should have some idea of the typical funding range offered by the program, because your proposal can be dismissed outright if your budget requests are too extravagant
3. What are the stated program goals of the funding agency?
Make sure that your research goals can be, and are, written so as to coincide as closely as possible with the stated goals of the funding agency and the specific program!